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DRAFT <br /> • <br /> JENNINGS Carrie A <br /> From: JENNINGS Carrie A <br /> To: MEISNER Scott <br /> Cc: ANDERSEN Chris F; johnny medlin; john etter; tim rhay <br /> Subject: RE: West Butte <br /> Date: Thursday, May 14, 1998 10:56AM <br /> FROM: Bob Hammitt <br /> Hi Scott, <br /> Chris forwarded this e-mail to me for response. <br /> The current plan for the dirt pile area is for the contractor to grade it to a condition as good or better than <br /> it was prior to piling of the dirt on the lot, then seeding it with grass. We do not plan to install irrigation, <br /> and feel the most inexpensive maintenance is to rough mow it 2-3 times a year. This would keep the grass <br /> below the obnoxious vegetation code requirement of 10". The grass would be green in spring and early <br /> summer. Rough mowing will keep it in a condition that should not be attractive to campers. It would be <br /> kept in better condition than it is currently. <br /> The West Butte park block, north of Cheshire is important as an entrance to and exit from the park and as <br /> a potential location to expand park amenities. I remember meeting with you a year or so ago, talking about .\ t <br /> potential uses for this area including a housing project south of the park. We were discussing a potential ' y! <br /> road alignment that would take park traffic out of the middle of the West Butte residential area, helping toI' <br /> improve the livability. I believe we discussed the need to eventually do a development plan for this area. <br /> This still needs to be done, we just simply have not gotten to it with the heavy workload in parks planning. <br /> The development plan process includes extensive involvement with neighborhood residents. <br /> The Park and Open Space package that is being prepared includes installing a softball field and possibly a (A � <br /> soccer overlay just northeast of the day care facility. There would be a parking lot associated with that (If <br /> development. Prior to any development we would be working with the neighborhood on a development <br /> plan. It is possible the neighborhood would want other amenities, such as picnic tables or sand volleyball. <br /> I think that the community garden aspect would be good to consider during the development plan process. <br /> I would recommend not developing a community garden until we get through the park and open space and <br /> development plan processes. There is a significant cost to develop a community garden, particularly if you <br /> include irrigation. We have found that community gardens require security fencing to eliminate theft <br /> problems. We had to erect a fence around Amazon Park garden last year, due to a theft problem. <br /> Wildflowers take a significant effort to establish. They are generally most cost effective when established <br /> in a high maintenance area. We do not consider rough mowing to be a high maintenance area. Again, I <br /> think establishing a wildflower area should be considered as part of the overall development plan. <br /> I will have our street light staff work with ODOT to figure out if there is a way to shield the lights to reduce <br /> the light pollution to the neighborhood. As far as planting trees, it seems reasonable to include that as a <br /> part of our annual NeighborWoods program. Trees would have to be planted in the planter strip in the <br /> right-of-way, as our NeighborWoods program is funded through the road fund. It might take several years <br /> before the trees mature enough to shield noise and light very effectively. We would need a neighborhood <br /> coordinator to work with our NeighborWoods staff on a planting project. The NeighborWoods program is <br /> compl for this season, it will begin again next fall. <br /> � We actually had the Sladden sidewalks funded with CDBG money back in 1984. The Whiteaker <br /> 1/41'.- Community Council decided to reprogram the funds for playground improvements, thus the sidewalk need <br /> is still there. The three sides of the park, plus some connections to the interior total about 1,400 linear <br /> feet and would cost around $40,000 to contract that work with a vendor. I will investigate the possibility <br /> of reapplying for CDBG funds or, if that is not possible, see if we can find funds to at least get the <br /> sidewalk installed along the east side. <br /> Let me know if I can provide any additional information on any of these issues. <br /> From: MEISNER Scott <br /> To: ANDERSEN Chris F <br /> Page 1 <br />